In Days Gone, clearing hostile ambush camps is one of the most rewarding activities for players exploring post-apocalyptic Oregon. Eliminating these outlaw strongholds clears foggy areas on your map, reveals valuable points of interest, and unlocks underground bunkers. Finding every camp requires methodical exploration across the game's diverse regions.
Understanding the Benefits of Clearing Ambush Camps
Taking over an ambush camp grants immediate strategic advantages that make survival significantly easier. Accessing the underground bunker in each camp unlocks crafting recipes for valuable items like pipe bombs and stamina cocktails. Additionally, cleared camps become safe fast-travel destinations across the open world.
Clearing these outposts also reveals the locations of nearby collectibles, Historical Markers, and NERO Research Sites on your main map screen. This eliminates the guesswork when searching for upgrades to Deacon St. John's health, stamina, and focus. Players should prioritize these camps early in each new region.
Locating Ambush Camps in Cascade and Belknap
The starting region of Cascade features three primary camps, including the Radio Tower Ambush Camp encountered during early story missions. Nearby, the Horse Creek and Jefferson Tunnel camps guard key mountain paths and require careful stealth approaches to clear effectively. Neutralizing these locations grants early crafting blueprints essential for tough encounters.
Heading west into the desert region of Belknap reveals three additional strongholds hidden among rocky cliffs and ravines. The Bear Creek, Black Crater, and Belknap Caves camps are heavily fortified by armed Marauders and Rippers. Taking out snipers from high perches first makes clearing these outposts much manageable.
Tracking Down Camps in Lost Lake and Iron Butte
As Deacon moves south into Lost Lake, players will encounter two major hostile settlements hidden in dense forests and farmland. The Berley Lake camp sits near swampy waters, while the Deerborn camp overlooks steep hillside trails. Successfully clearing both reveals crucial crafting schematics for late-game combat challenges.
The mountainous Iron Butte region contains two distinct Ripper strongholds that require heavy firepower or clever trap usage. The Wagon Road camp features tight subterranean passages, while the Redwood RV Park camp spans a wide open recreational area. Using stealth takedowns allows players to clear enemies without triggering widespread alarms.
Clearing Outposts in Crater Lake and Highway 97
The southern regions contain some of the most heavily guarded camps in the game, populated by well-armed Anarchists and Marauders. In Crater Lake, the Spruce Lake and Cascade Lakes Rail camps offer dangerous sniper nests that overlook main roads. Securing these points gives players safe passage between major southern survivor encampments.
Finally, Highway 97 holds two final strongholds: the Aspen Butte and Bare Bay Ambush Camps. These outposts sit near large Freaker hordes, requiring players to avoid making noise that could draw nearby monsters into the firefight. Completing these final camps fully uncovers the remaining fog on the map grid.
Key Strategies for Finding Underground Bunkers
Defeating all human enemies at a location is only the first step toward fully securing an ambush camp. Players must locate the hidden hatch leading down to the underground bunker to claim their rewards. Following smoke plumes from the bunker's power generator usually leads directly to the secret entrance.
Inside each bunker, interacting with the central tactical map updates Deacon's journal and clears surrounding map fog. Taking time to loot surrounding supply crates provides valuable crafting materials like gunpowder, rag, and kerosene. Completing every camp is essential for any player seeking full completion in Days Gone.
